Our Sacred Relationship: God & Church Romans 12:1-8

A. A Relationship with God = A Life of Sacrifice & Worship

Our Sacred Relationship: God & Church

INTRO

1. Holistic Worship: present your bodies as a

a. living sacrifice,

· Time of transition for Paul as he prepares for a new missionary journey written 57 AD

1) holy

· The first letter to a church he did not found

· This church is also in transition for five years from 49 AD to 54 AD the Jews were exiled by Emperor Claudius

2) acceptable to God,

· Structure 1-11 Theology of the Gospel 12 – 15 Ethics of the Gospel

b. which is your spiritual worship.

A. A Relationship with God = A Life of Sacrifice & Worship

It is not to be offered in the temple courts or in the church buildings, but rather in-home life and in the marketplace. This blunt reference to our presentation of our bodies to God. This blunt reference to our bodies was calculated to shock some of Paul’s Greek readers. John Stott

1. Wholistic Worship: present your bodies as a

2. A Transformation worth Sacrifice: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,

a. living sacrifice,

a. that by testing you may discern what is the will of God,

1) holy

b. what is good and acceptable and perfect.

2) acceptable to God,

B. A Relationship with The Church = A Life of Humility & Unity

b. which is your spiritual worship.

3. Humility: not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think,

a. but to think with sober judgment,

All places are places of worship to a Christian. Wherever he is, he ought to be in a worshiping frame of mind.

Charles Spurgeon

2. A Transformation worth Sacrifice: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,

1) each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

a. that by testing you may discern what is the will of God,

4. Unity: For as in one body

a. we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,

b. what is good and acceptable and perfect.

b. we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

B. A Relationship with The Church = A Life of Humble Unity & of Service

1. Worship & Sacrifice that lead to Humility: not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think,

c. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them:

1) if prophecy, in proportion to our faith

a. but to think with sober judgment,

1) each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

2) if service, in our serving;

3) the one who teaches, in his teaching;

2. The Church Will Go on Through Unity: For as in one body

4) the one who exhorts, in his exhortation;

a. we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,

b. we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

5) the one who contributes, in generosity;

3. The Church Must Serve: Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them:

6) the one who leads, with zeal;

1) List Of the gifts

7) the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

If we truly want a transformation at the church here then we must first have a sacrifice change in our own life

This unity is rooted in sacrifice, worship, and serves to God. This relationship is an outcome of the overflow of our relationship to God